Federal judge rules in favor of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system

Wednesday

Apr 30, 2014 at 11:28 AM

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge has ruled in favor of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system and against two plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit against state officials, alleging that they were harmed by systemic deficiencies while in foster care.

Mark Reynolds Journal Staff Writer mrkrynlds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge has ruled in favor of Rhode Island’s child-welfare system and against two plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit against state officials, alleging that they were harmed by systemic deficiencies while in foster care.

In a 108-page decision, issued Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi granted a motion to toss out the suit, which was filed in 2007 by the child-advocacy group Children’s Rights.

The group’s lawsuit accused the Department of Children, Youth and Families of violating certain constitutional and statutory rights, including adequate foster maintenance payments and mandated levels of care, afforded to all foster children under federal law.

The suit alleges that the systemic deficiencies in the child-welfare system harmed two children in particular and have failed more than 1,800 children during the past six years.

Lisi, who listened to 16-days of testimony, found there was “nothing to suggest” that DCYF’s foster care harmed the two plaintiffs identified as Danny and Cassie.

“… A review of the circumstances of Danny’s and Cassie’s history, placements, treatments, and services,” says Lisi’s decision, “does not support the … plaintiffs’ claims that DCYF’s acts or omissions caused any harm to either Danny or Cassie, that DCYF subjected them to unreasonable risks, or that it deprived them of their constitutional rights.”